Dunbar High School (East Spencer, North Carolina)

Dunbar High School
Location
East Spencer, North Carolina, U.S.
Coordinates35°40′38″N 80°26′38″W / 35.677117°N 80.443938°W / 35.677117; -80.443938
Information
Other nameEast Spencer Negro School (1900–1957)
Dunbar High School (1958–1969)
Established1900
Closed1969

Dunbar High School was a public black school located in East Spencer, North Carolina, active from 1900 until the 1969. It was formerly known as East Spencer Negro School, and the Dunbar School. It was founded as a one-room school, and by 1958 it became a high school. After the school closure in the 1960s it was the site of North Rowan Middle School, followed by the Paul Laurence Dunbar Center.

History

Dunbar High School, was founded as East Spencer Negro School, history that dates back to 1900 when it was a one-room schoolhouse.[1] Over time, the school grew to multiple rooms, then in 1921, the school built an 11-classroom building with an auditorium, library, office, lunchroom, and basement.[1] In 1958, the school became a high school and was named in honor of Paul Laurence Dunbar, a poet whose parents were freed slaves from Kentucky; and was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition.[1] In 1964, the school was the subject of a school bus driver protest which gained national attention.[2][3]

Closure

After integration in 1969, Dunbar High School was renamed again to North Rowan Middle School.[4][5] In the 1994, North Rowan Middle School moved to an alternate site, and the original building (still owned by the Rowan-Salisbury School System) became a community center with the name Paul Laurence Dunbar Center.[1][4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bergeron, Josh (January 1, 2015). "Dunbar Center's history dates back to 1900". Salisbury Post. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  2. ^ "North Carolina Student School Bus Driver Strike". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. May 14, 1964. p. 27.
  3. ^ "Dunbar Students Protest When Two Drivers 'Relieved'". Salisbury Post. April 21, 1964. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Presson, Tracy (August 11, 1997). "Dunbar students get ready for reunion". Salisbury Post. p. 13. Retrieved 2026-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Five Plans Put Up For North Changes". Salisbury Post. March 5, 1969. p. 17. Retrieved 2026-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
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